As the state votes, candidates in the astronaut's birth city Karnal fall over each other to promise to build a college in her memory
As the state votes, candidates in the astronaut's birth city Karnal fall over each other to promise to build a college in her memory
Kalpana Chawla is campaigning in Karnal. As Haryana votes today, the American astronaut of Indian origin is the flavour of the poll season. Interestingly, she has brought all political parties together.
Voters from all Assembly constituencies of the Karnal district have made it clear they will vote for the candidate who promises to build a medical college in the memory of the astronaut from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), who was born in the city. The college was promised by former Union Health Minister CP Thakur in 2004, almost a year after Chawla's sudden death during a space mission.
"The residents of Karnal have been waiting for about six years for a medical college in the memory of Chawla, who drew global attention to the city of her birth. But even after so many years, the promise remains unfulfilled," said Ramesh Berwal, a resident of Sector 9, HSIDC Colony, Kunjpura Road.
In Karnal, Chawla is a popular figure, with shops and houses named after her. Her photograph dominates many homes and business establishments, including the cyber cafu00e9 from where this story was emailed.
"The Kalpana Chawla Medical College is close to the people of Karnal. As I am also a resident of the city, it is important for me too. If I win, I will dedicatedly work for it," said MLA Sumita Singh, the Congress candidate from the Karnal Assembly seat.
But Singh has competition. Candidates of other parties - the Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) are also promising to set up the college. "The Congress failed to make the college a reality in five years. But we will fulfill the promise. It was originally ours," said Anand, the INLD candidate from Karnal.u00a0 In a country where political parties dedicate institutes and roads to their party bosses, the college in Chawla's name is a rarity.
"Haryana doesn't have a fair image when it comes to women's rights. This college can salvage that status. Our government had promised to build the medical college in her name but unfortunately, we were voted out. If we return, we will honour the promise made in the name of our beti," said Satish Beniwal, a local INLD worker.
